I think that the latest little spat in the last few posts is quite illustrative of the problem.Of course the person flying the aircraft SHOULD be the one to make the decision but in real life subtle pressures are applied in all manner of ways.
Back o=in the 70's working for a US rig construction company in the North Sea a colleague and myself used to joke that the ultimate sanction was "To be badly thought of" by the company.Now we were a pair of pisstakers and significantly we both ended up self employed,but a lot of our colleagues was worried by this ultimate sanction.
In any Master/servant relationship it is the former who carries the responsibility to ensure the safety of employee,customer and public.But rich businessman probably tend towards the can do attitude.it is only when an event such as this occurs that they should realise there are things that they can't do,or at least should not do.